“Stand fast therefore
in the liberty by which Christ has made us free.” Galatians 5:1
A
spiritually-minded person will never come to you with the demand — "Believe this and that," a
spiritually-minded person will demand that you align your life with the
standards of Jesus. We are not asked to believe the Bible, but to believe the One whom the Bible reveals. We
are called to present liberty for the conscience of others, not to bring them
liberty for their thoughts and opinions. And if we ourselves are free with the
liberty of Christ, others will be brought into that same liberty ~ the liberty
that comes from realizing the absolute control and authority of Jesus Christ.
Always
measure your life solely by the standards of Jesus. Submit yourself to His yoke
and His alone; and always be careful never to place a yoke on
others that is not of Jesus Christ. It takes God a long time to get us to
stop thinking that unless everyone sees things exactly as we do, they must be
wrong. That is never God’s view. There is only one true liberty ~ the liberty
of Jesus at work in our conscience enabling us to do what is right.
Do
not get impatient with others. Remember
how God dealt with you ~ with patience and with gentleness. However, never
water down the truth of God. Let it have its way and never apologize for it.
Jesus said, "Go…and make disciples…."
not, "Make converts to your own
thoughts and opinions."
Taken from My Utmost for His Highest
by Oswald Chambers.
copyright 1935 by Dodd Mead &
“All during his
ministry, Paul battled “the false
brethren who come to spy out our liberty in Christ Jesus” by setting up
ritualistic restrictions. Augustine was
right: Christ’s way is “Love God, and do as you please” because as
we grow to love God, what we “please”
will change. This is where the surprise comes in. God gives the inner man a new set of goals
and passions. It would be bondage indeed
to obey God when we do not want to. It is delightful freedom to do what we most
want to do. And that is the wonderful
way that God works it out for us.” Peter
Marshall
“Lord, thank you for
the freedom of being in Your will.”